Teresa Kirke

Teresa Kirke also known as Mermaid at Heart Studio, is a local artist from Victoria, BC. Working an intuitive process, she creates contemporary abstract artwork using the fluid medium of alcohol ink, resin, and acrylic inks. Her work is often recognized as having soft delicate edges, shimmery pops of colour, and a balance of negative space giving the organic movement of the inks room to shine. Alcohol inks are highly pigmented and are worked by diluting and manipulating the ink into flowing organic shapes and textures. As the diluted inks are translucent, many layers are built up through intuitive compositional placement as well as mica pigments and gold/silver leafing worked into the finished piece.The inspiration behind many of Teresa’s favourite colours and compositions are found in the rugged wild west coast of British Columbia; the rich blues and greens of the Pacific Ocean, the corals and lavenders of the summer sunsets, and the vibrant florals found in the gardens throughout Victoria. Growing up on Vancouver Island she became drawn to the wild beauty around her; the rough landscapes of the island softened through sparkling sunlight glinting off the water, the bloom hidden in the rocky shoreline, and the rich greens and earth tones of the forest giants. Teresa believes there is beauty hidden everywhere we look and through her ink and mixed media artwork, she has found a connection with the natural world and that which she embraces through painting and exploration in her abstract work.